Annabella the Hero (Book Three Of Defiance)

Chapter 15

    I wake up to the sound of soft sobbing. Crying never means anything good. Bright light penetrates my eyes when they open and I groan. I always hated light after being in darkness.
    The sobbing stops and footsteps approach the bed I'm lying in. It's the twins, both with red and puffy eyes. "Hey guys, what's wrong?" I ask worriedly. They share a look with each other and I know they're communicating without words.
    "We were just worried about you Bells," Fred says. I narrow my eyes at him. "Fred Weasley, you better not lie to me." He looks worried that I don't believe him, which I don't. I know when Fred's lying.
    After a moment of intense staring with Fred, George sighs. We both look over to him and when he speaks, his voice sounds sad. "Freddie, don't lie to her."
    Both of the twins have tears in their eyes as they crawl into the bed on either side of me. They've both done this so many times but this time it feels different. There's a sense of dread.
    "Bells," George begins as he takes my hand. Fred takes my other one and we allow a moment for George to steady his shaky breathing. "Bells, we lost the baby."
    My entire world turns upside down in that moment. I remember standing up in the restaurant with Angelina and when I stood up. Angelina! "What happened with Angelina?" I ask worriedly.
    "We has to tell her everything," Fred replies. "She freaked out when you turned into yourself. She's not mad, she just wants to talk to you when you feel better."
    That is when everything sets in. My baby is gone. The beautiful little baby that I never got to meet is gone. I never will meet it. I begin to sob into George's chest. Sure, I wasn't ready to be a mother and I wasn't prepared, but this was my baby, George's baby.
    "Georgie," I sob. "I'm sorry." He looks down at me, obviously confused. "Why are you sorry, Love?" I sob again, disgusted with myself. "It was my fault! I did something wrong and now our baby is gone!"
    "Oh Merlin Bells! No it wasn't your fault. Please don't ever think that. It was an accident. It was nobody's fault," he replies, rubbing my back soothingly. Fred stands up, fidgeting with his hands. "I'll leave you two alone for a moment," he says.
   
"Georgie, I want to go home."

"I know darling. The healer needs to see you and we'll be back in the apartment before you know it."

"No George. I want to go home."

"Bells, you know you can't."

"I'm tired of hiding George. I want to go home."

"Let's see the healer and then we can talk about it."

    The healer comes to see me a while after that. George has put my name in as Weasley so there's no questions. He says the same thing George did, that it wasn't my fault. This doesn't change the fact that I feel like it is.
    "And one more thing. Mrs. Weasley, I'm afraid that your body is just not compatible for carrying a baby. I doubt tha you will have any other pregnancies in your future. I'm sorry," the healer says. I was not expecting this. George and I always wanted children. It was part of our future.
    Back at the apartment, I break down crying again. "I didn't expect to hear that I could never have children. Georgie, I'm sorry," I sat quietly. He walks over to me and pulls me into his chest. "Please don't ever say you're sorry again. It isn't your fault."
    George insists on giving me a few days to cope before I decide if I want to go home. After a week, I decide I'm going. George nods and suggests we start with my father. The three of us get ready and apparate to my home. My real home.
     I don't have time to take it in before George knocks on the front door. My father answers and promptly yells upon seeing me. "Oh dear Merlin!" He exclaims. "Is this real? Are you here?" He asks me. I don't answer with words, just run into my daddy's arms.
    We sit down at the kitchen table and explain the entire story to him, right up to when we lost the baby. Dad cries during a lot of the story, especially when he hears about his unborn grandchild.
    I'm so glad to be home with him. I love my dad and I missed him a lot. I know I left him with a lot of pain when I "died" and I feel so guilty for that but from the looks of it, he's forgiven me.
    He's finally stopped crying and is smiling when Harry walks into the room. He stops cold and just stares at me before opening his mouth and closing it several times. Finally, he just chokes out "Why?" Before leaving the room.
    I excuse myself and run after him, unsure of how to clean up this mess I've made. I follow Harry to his room, where he promptly slams the door in my face.
    "Harry?" I say. "Come on! Please listen to me!" I hear nothing coming from inside so I knock again. The door opens slowly and my cousin stands there with tears in his eyes. He throws his arms around me and I bury my head in his neck, having wanted nothing but this for a very long time now.
    I explain the whole story by myself this time as we sit on Harry's bed. I relay everything from Dumbledore's message to my short pregnancy. I'm crying again by the end and I don't think Harry ever stopped.
    He says nothing for a long time after I've finished. I suppose he's just processing it all. Finally he just hugs me again, wrapping me up in his arms. "I missed you," He says. "I missed you too," I reply.
    After hugging for another moment, Harry sits up. "So now I'm going to have to have a talk with George, am I?"